From San Diego to SW19 for Britain's college hotshot

World No 719 Oliver Tarvet made a mockery of the rankings to reach the main draw at Wimbledon, writes Kieran Jackson

- Kieran Jackson

Two weeks ago, 21-year-old Oliver Tarvet concluded his third and penultimate year at the University of San Diego, basking in the sunshine on America’s west coast. “Excited for one more,” he posted on Instagram, at that stage unaware of the green-floored opportunity ahead. Fast-forward a fortnight, and Tarvet will be one of 128 players to take his place in today’s men’s singles draw for Wimbledon. Not half bad.

“This seemed so far away when I was a little kid,” said Tarvet, from St Albans, whose world ranking of 719 makes him the British No 33. “Now it’s a reality, it’s obviously a great feeling. Winning on Monday surprised myself this week. I didn’t expect, but I just kept on surrounding one was something.”

Given an unexpected wild card for qualifying, Tarvet made a mockery of the numbers and – as the second-lowest ranked player in the draw – became the first British man in eight years to qualify for Wimbledon. Needless to say, he’ll be the lowest-ranked player next week, by an astonishing 236 places.

Tarvet’s impressive four-set victory over Belgian player Alexander Blockx, ranked 579 places higher, in yesterday’s final round was met with jubilation in the unique setting of the 770-capacity Court 1, at the Bank of England Sports Centre in Roehampton, an old-school, makeshift venue which acts as the traditional gateway to the big dance at the All England Club, three miles down the road.